Patrick Augustine's visit to Cape Town- South Africa to Garissa - Kenya
October 10-22, 2010 Click (here)
October 26, 2010
Clergy Day Gathering
Morning gathering worked on how the diaconal and priestly roles are perceived by their counterparts: Here are some of the concluding "pictures:"
Picture of the Deacon as seen by some of Eau Claire's Priests
· An icon for Christ in the world
· Initiator and Catalyst for lay ministry in the market place
· Lives in three places: the Church, at the "edge," and in the world
· Sends the community of faith out into ministry in the world
· Servant leader; leads the Church's ministry in the world
· A connector, communicator; triage manager; connects Bishop, Priest, Congregation, world
· A difficult and challenging role: prophetic voice; risk taker
· "Lights the Light that goes into the world" (Image the Pascal candle at the Easter Vigil)
Picture of the Priest as seen by some of Eau Claire's Deacons
· Presides as Christian Community gathers
· Meaning giver of life's experiences; Teacher, Preacher, Story teller; Nurtures Identity
· Accessible with boundaries
· Channel of the Presence of Christ; Sacramentalist
· Permission giver
· Welcomes seekers into community of the faithful
· Models integrity
· Human: shares life's brokenness and ecstasies the same as everyone else
· Icon of Episcopal Identity to other communities of faith
October 23, 2010
Deacons' Reflections from October 23 Deacon Gathering
How we experience our diaconal role in contrast to the priestly role:
Deacon's Role | Priest's Role |
About Care-Giving | About Meaning-Giving |
Most of time spent "outside" in Community | Most of time spent "inside" building up the Body |
Sends People of God Out for mission | Gathers People of God In for nurture |
Serves | Presides |
Icon and Catalyst for Mission | Icon and Catalyst for Identity |
About Doing | About Knowing |
With the Bishop as assistants | With the Bishop as fellow-presiders |
How we can serve the diocesan in the coming months of diocesan reformation and re-identification:
1. Model/Radiate joyful and hopeful attitudes by being intentional about what we focus on.
2. Take care of ourselves by intentionally forming habits that energize and connect us to Presence.
3. As we are leaders of caring ministry, we need to be about modeling self-care.
4. Get "plugged-in" to what is life-giving.
5. Slow down to see, appreciate and take in the awe and wonder around us.
6. Pray for one another in our common diaconal ministry.
7. Meet together to remind and support one another of our missional roles.
8. Be icons ("light-bulbs") and catalysts for congregational (communal) mission.
FIRST CLERGY DAY WITH BISHOP ED LEIDEL
Priests and deacons met with Bishop Ed Wednesday, September 22nd, in the Memorial Lounge at Christ Church Cathedral in Eau Claire. Small groups of two, three, or four gathered around tables, first to pray then to discuss and share responses to questions posed by the Bishop. Father Art Hancock volunteered to be official scribe and performed his duties valiantly with the assistance of the Bishop who kept speakers limited to one at a time and ensured every voice was heard.
Questions and Answers:
What can the Bishop do for us?
Ø Open “doors” for diaconal training
Ø Open doors for lay ministry
Ø Build clergy collegiality
Ø Help with Church Pension Fund questions
Ø Be a congregational presence – morale
Ø Establish an understanding of the need for a bishop
Ø Be a catalyst for connecting
Ø Keep your word
Ø Help in dealing with controversy
Ø Make visitations
Ø Rebuild trust
Ø Reorienting us in a Christian way
Ø Identify gifts of community and release of gifts
What Can YOU Do for the Diocese?
Ø Trust the process, participate, and cooperate
Ø Find the middle way
Ø Share what’s working and not working
Ø Share the stories of what’s working
Ø Help retired clergy be a part
Ø Keep spiritually healthy
Ø Lift up spiritual directors
Ø Affirm God’s presence among us in our work
Ø Be missional hearts and resource
Ø Encourage our people to be missional
What are your Hopes for the future?
Ø Proactive, “active” diocese
Ø Listen to one another
Ø Joyful, celebrative spirit
Ø Healthy congregations
Ø That there is and will be a future. Strong
Ø Be Church
Ø Being proud
Ø Great to be small Church
What are the things we need to let go of?
Ø Fear…….Poof!
Ø Old images of church
Ø “Worst” of the past, i.e. old Christendom – apportionment as tax
Ø Clericalism
Ø “Father knows best”
Ø Scape-ghosts – “baggage just let it go”
Ø Blinders
Ø Provincialism
Ø Small tent thinking “Poor us”
Ø Trappings of the past
What to do differently?
Ø Training laity to do MISSION - work of Church
Ø Use existing programs
Ø Get serious about clergy continuing education
Ø Be JOYFUL! Practice joy.
Ø Have a different mindset
Ø Frame things positively
Ø 1 priest/1 congregation
Ø More communication
Ø Share ideas, successes and failures
Ø Learn instant communication
Ø Celebrate diversity
A break was called and brown bag lunches were eaten. Conversation was plentiful, with a good dose of laughter and pithy remarks.
When the discussions were taking place, from old habit it was easy to slip into using negative words and expressions. Bishop Leidel, with his vast experience in coaching, immediately stopped the conversation and led us through a process of turning those negative around. Soon it became almost a game catching one another and ourselves when we slipped back into those old habits.
At the end of our time together, consensus was that the day was informative, formative, and positive. A Clergy Day will be scheduled once a month during Bishop Leidel’s time in the Diocese.
The four deacons dismissed the group with one unified dismissal to “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord!” followed by a very hearty “Thanks be to God”.
Our Next Clergy Day is set for: Tuesday, October 26, 11am a CCC. Bring bag lunch.
Our first Deacon Gathering is set for: Saturday, October 23, 10:30am at CCC. Bring bag lunch.
This space is for clergy to respond, comment, or contribute whatever is on their mind
from Patrick Augustine, Christ Church, La Cross (click here)